School Bus Safety Bill to Receive Hearing in CT General Assembly

DERBY, CT — A school bus safety bill, proposed by state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R-105th), will be the subject of a public hearing of the Connecticut General Assembly's Transportation Committee on Monday, the first-term legislator announced. that her

The bill, H.B. 5325, informs school districts of the state’s School Bus Seat Belt Account, which was created in 2010 (PA 10-83) after a bus carrying Rocky Hill students to a robotics competition was struck by a car on I-84 in Hartford, killing one student.

The account reimburses municipalities of half of the sales tax for the purchase of new school buses equipped with seatbelts, and towns have until Dec. 31 to avail themselves of the fund. Currently, there is $1.2 million in the account for school districts to utilize.

According to Rep. Klarides-Ditria, the School Bus Seatbelt Safety Account funding comes from a $50 deposit of the total fee associated with restoring an operator’s license or registration, which is $175. DMV is the administrator of the fund.

Residents interested in this proposal can submit testimony to the Transportation Committee at tratestimony@cga.ct.gov. Please copy Rep. Klarides-Ditria’s email, Nicole.Klarides-Ditria@housegop.ct.gov, on the submission.

For more information about the General Assembly and current bills, visit www.cga.ct.gov. Rep. Klarides-Ditria’s district includes Derby, Beacon Falls and Seymour, and her legislative office can be reached at (860) 240-8700.

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